Perforating machine



March 2l, 1933.

E, A. FORD PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet l mmmNil

March 2l, 1933. E. A. FORD PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 7Sheets-Sheet u mw mm, m

Afl Mm E. A. FORD PERFORATING MACHINE March 21, 1933.

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Jan. 25 1929 March 21, 1933. E. A. FORD 3PERFORATING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 25 1929 March 2H, 933.

E. A. FORD PERFORMING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 March21, 1933. E A FORD 1,902,064

PERFORATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 T-Sheets-Sheet 6 v@ FIGB.-

guanto@ FIGS.

March 21, 1933. E A, FORD l 1,902,064

A PERFORATINCT MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 PatentedMar. 2l, 1933 UNITED STATES `PlyrlazNr OFFICE EUGENE A. FORD, FSCARSDALE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 THE TABULATING MACHINE COMPANY, 0FENDICOTT, NEW YORK, .A CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY PERFOEATING MACHINE /LApplication led Ian-nary 25, 1929. Serial No. 334,882.

This invention relates to card perforating machines and moreparticularly to the type adapted to eii'ect copies of perforated recordsheets or cards.

It has been proposed, heretofore, to provide certain types of accountingmachines such as cash registers with a perforating mechanism toperforate a record tape at the time of making a sale. The tape isperforated with characters representing different classificationtransactions and the amount of such sales. The perforated tape is thenpassed through the auditing machines to obtain `the totals correspondingto the dierent classification transactions and the tape is passedthrough the machine once for each segregation desired.

However, it is not possible to obtain totals of sales related to certainones of a group identifiedfby the same classication characters and thislack of flexibilityL and other objectionable features militates againstthe eX- tensive use of such systems. As is generally understood, wherethe entries are represented by perforated record cards considerableilexibility is possible, since it is a simple matter to sort cardsaccording to any desired classification to subsequentlycontrolaccounting machines.- Aside from the flexibility derived, record cardsmay contain considerable moredata than represented by a perforated` ta eand are of a form convenientto handle, le and operate with. v

Itis then the Vmain object of the present invention to prepare induplicate a record card for each section of a record tape representing aclassified entry.

It is a further object of the invention to reject or segregate the cardswhich are prepared in duplicate from a section of the tape erroneouslyor improperly perforated, such segregation being controlledeithenautomatically or manually.

Other objects of the present invention will be clearly apparent from thefollowing specification, claims and drawings which disclose la preferredembodiment of the invention.

moved to more clearly illustrate certain parts. Fig. 2 is a centrallongitudinal sectional view of the machine taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.3.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of'Fig'. 2.

Fig. 5 is a central transverse sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ofFig. 2.`

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional View showing details of construction ofthe punchin mechanism. F Fig. 7 is another view of the parts shown inFig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 illustrating the parts in an operatedposition.

Fig. 9 is a view in side elevation showing details of the card rejectingmechanism.

Fig. 10 illustrates details of a part of the gearing associated with theoperating mechanism. i

Fig. 11 is a plan view of a section of the perforated record strip.

Power fordriving the various mechanisms is provided by any suitablemotor drivin the belt pulley 2O (Fig. 1) rotatable with a rive shaft 21secured to which is a pinion 22 meshing with a gear 23. The Elatter issecured to shaft 24 which drives a gear 25 through a pair of frictionclutch elements 26, the elementrotatable with gear 25 being looselymounted on shaft 24. As best shown in Fig. 5 the` perforated recordstrip 27 is drawn from a supply roll 28 and is unrolled therefrom by afeeding roller 29 having peripheral projections engaging the usualmarginal perforations.

The strip as it leaves roller 29 is presented l to an analyzingmechanism A and is subsequently fed by a supplemental roller 30 similarto roller 29. The roller 30 is driven by a gear 31 meshing with gear 25(see Figs. 1 and 10) while the roller 29 is driven by gear 31 through agear train (Fig. 4) comprising one to one ratio gears 32, 33, 34, 35, 36and 37. After leaving roller 30 the strip is rolled about a storageroller 38, the supporting spindle 39 (Fig. 1) Abeing driven by a drivepinion 41 through a pair of friction clutchlemei s 42 secured to shaft24.

Secured to shaft 21 is a worm 43 (Figs. 1 and 4) meshing with a wormwheel 44 secured to a cam shaft 45 which carries a paper feedcontrolling cam 46. Suitable means now to be described is provided tocontrol the intermittent paper feeding operations. Rotatable with thegear 34 (Fig. 4) is a shouldered disk 47 the shoulder of which is in theplane of the hooked end of a bell crank member 48. The cam 46 (Fig. 2)cooperates with a follower of an arm 49 which imparts motion to the bellcrank member 48 through a coil spring 50. In the position shown '(Flg.2) the low point of cam y46 has permitted a spring 5l to rock arm 49downwardly to raise the hooked end of bell crank member 48 out ofengagement with the shoulder of disk 47 to render the paper feedingmechanism operative.

Clutch elements 26 and 40 are now effective to feed the perforated stripand when a certain amount has been fed the high point of cam 46 willrock bell crank- 48 reversely so that the hooked end reengages theshoulder of disk 47 to stop the paper feed. During paper feedingoperations a record card is fed to the punching mechanism in order thatthe selected punches may perforate the vcard in accordance with theperforations in the strip. Any suitable picker mechanism may be providedto feed the cards singly from a hopper and may comprise that shown inthe gatent to C. D. Lake, No. 1,600,413 dated eptember 21, 1926.

The arm 52 (Fig. 2) which reciprocates a picker knife 53 to effect cardfeed may have any vsuitable driving connections to the operatingmechanism. Each card 57 as fed is presented to pairs of feeding rollers54 and 55 (Fig. 1). Both pairs are driven by a worm 56 secured to shaft21. When a card 57 is fed tothe desired position beneath the punches itis held against further feeding movement by a card gate comprising acard abutment plate 58 (Figs. 2, 6 and 7) suitably guided for verticalmovement. A pair of levers 59 secured to a tube 61 and connected to theplate 58 by links 60 are adapted to be detail, air pressure is suppliedto an entrance pipe 65 (Fig. 2) which leads to the air entrance 66 of avalve 67 and which has an air communication to the exit 68 when a piston69 is raised. The piston rod 69 is connected to a plate 70 apertured toreceive an eccentrically mounted disk 71 secured to shaft 45. Elevationof the piston at the desired time permits compressed air to flow throughperforations 661, through the cylinder and perforations 681 to the exitportion 68 to a connecting pipe 72 which communicates with a pocket 73of a cap 74. The cap 74 at its lower face has several'series ofperforations in registration with a similar number of perforations in aplate 75 spaced apart from the cap to permit the perforated record stripto pass therebetween.

When the piston is lowered the cylinder is opened at its upper end tothe atmosphere through -a screen 682 relieving the-air pressure on therecord strip. When a perforation of the stationary strip is inregistration with an aperture in cap 74 and plate 75 (Figs. 6 and 7) airpressure will flow through a duct 76 to actuate a related spring urgedplunger 77. Each plunger when depressed actuates a spring pressed stoprod 78 `having a shoulder 79 adapted to engage under a pin 80 of a latchplate 81 to thus lock the actuated stop in depressed position (see Fig.7). The card when fed is interposed between a die plate 82 and a guideblock 83 in which the punches 84 are slidably mounted. The die plate andguide block are spaced apart but move as a unit upwardly to effectpunching and when both are in their normal lowered position (see Fig. 8)the heads 85 of the punches 84 rest upon a stationary guide plate 86 toavoid interference with the punches by a card in its transitory feedingmovement. When a stop 78 is depressed the lower portion thereof contactsthe head of the related punch 84 (see Fig. 8) so that when both theguide block and die are elevated the locked stop 78 will act toindirectly force the punch 84 through the card to perforate it, asclearly relieve pins 8O of any strain during the punching operationaslide 87 is positioned so that integral portions move into aninterlockinor relationship with one of two slots 88', 89 of tlie stops78, depending whether a stop is depressed or not, thereby locking allthe normally positioned or depressed stops. IMovement of the lockingplate 87 to accomplish the above is provided by a bail 90looselymoun'ted on a stud shaft 91 and having a suitable connection(similar to arm 62; see Fig. 2) to an arm 93 (Fig. 3) actuated by itsrelated operating cam 94. The latch plate is moved by a bail 97 (Fig. 8)which .has a similar connection to its related operating arm 95 (Fig. 3)which, in turn', is actuated by its related cam 96. When the latch plate81 is shifted it will release those stops 78 which havebeen locked indepressed position.

The preferred means for elevating the` guide block and die platecom-prises a pair ofv cams 97 (Figs. 2 and 5) acting upon rollers 98carried by the die plate 82. For the purpose ofA driving the cams 97 thecam shaft 99 carries a worm wheel 100 in mesh with a worm 101 secured toshaft 21. Guide block 83 and die plate 82 are restored by s rings 102(Figf 5) previously compressed uring kthe punching operation.

After the punching operation has been completed the card abutment 58 iselevated permitting sets of driven rollers 103 and 104 to feed the cardbetween guidey plates 105 (Fig. 2). The punched card in its feedingmovement strikes a d eector plate 106 which guides it to the receivinghopper 107. The cycle of operation is thereafter repeated effecting apunched card which is a duplicate of the sections of the perforatedstrip.

It sometimes happens that the perforated strip is improperly perforatedand since a card will nevertheless be prepared it is desirable to rejectsuch cards in order to render it unnecessary for the operatorY tomanually select such cards from the group of punched cards. The sectionsof the record strip which are improperly perforated may be marked Void0r bear some similar identifying marking. When such as section appearsthe operator may depress a suitable button to close a set of contacts108 '(see Fig. 9) to energize a magnet 109. The defiector plate 106 issecured to a bar 110 which is pivoted by a rod 111 at its ends so thatat the vnormal position of bar (Fig. 2) the deflector will guide thecard to the receiving hopper 107.

Associated with the reject station R is an angular delector plate 112and a guide plate 11.3 both carried by a fixed block 114. A link 118 atone end is connected to an arm 116 secured to rod 111 and at its otherto an arm 117 loose on a rod 115. Extending upwardly and securedto therod isan arm 119 which is normally latched by the armature 120 of magnet109 (see Fig. 1) and when this latching relationship exists deflector106 (see Fig. 2) guides the cards to the hopper 107. Upon energizationof the magnet 109 a spring 121 is effective to shift the delector plate106 to the position shown in Fig. 9 lowering it so that the card-is fedby rollers 104 over a horizontal plate which is beneath the plate 113. Apair of feeding rollers 124 (Fig. 2) then convey the card until itstrikes the deflector plate 112 which guides the cards to the rejectstation R; Arm 119 is shifted to be relatched by the armature 120'by acam 122 secured to drive shaft45.

While the control of the card rejecting mechanism may be manuallyeffected it is pereferable to control it automatically and in thepreferred embodiment the presence of a special card reject perforation125 (Fig. 11) effects the rejection of the card. It will be observedthat this perforation is outside of the field of data representingperforations to permit fluid pressure to flow in a tube 126 connected toa piston device 127 (Fig. 9) the piston rod of which is adapted to closethe contacts 108 and automatically effect the rejection of the card inthe manner just explained. A

While there has been shown and described and pointed out the fundamentalnovel features of the invention as applied to a single modification itwill be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changesin the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operationmay be made by those skilled in the art without departing from thespirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limitedonly as indicated by the scope of the following claims:

v I claim 1. A machine for punching record cards in accordance with aperforated pattern record, a punching mechanism having punching pins andcoordinated selectors shiftable to engage and hold said pins for apunching operation, pneumatic controlled means for shifting saidselectors, said pneumatic controlled means being under the control ofsaid perforated pattern record and means comprising a bar for lockingsaid selectors preliminarily to a punching operation. i

2. A machine for punching record cards in accordance with a perforatedpattern record, a punching mechanism including punching pins coordinatedwith the index points of the card to be punched, selectors shiftable tocoact and hold said punching pins against movement for a punchingoperation, means comprising individual elements, one for each selectorto effect a coaction. between said punching pins and said selectors, anda comrnon bar tov lock the shifted selectors, whereby said punching pinsare held to punch the card in accordance with said pattern record.

3. In a machine for punching record cards in accordance with aperforated pattern record', a punching mechanism including punchingpins, a pneumatically actuated controlling element for each pin, saidelement being under the control of said perforated pattern record, aninterposer movable independently of the pin between each controllingelement and punching pin to hold the pin for a punching operation, and abar for locking the interposer in shifted position.

4. In a machine for punching record cards in accordance with aperforated pattern record, a punching mechanism including punching pins,a pneumatic-ally actuated controlling element for each pin, said elementbeing under the control of said perforated pattern record, an interposerbetween each controlling element and punching pin, a bar shiftpins areheld to effect a punching operation, I

and means to release said interposer by shifting said bar when punchingof the record card has been effected.

5. A machine according to claim 4 wherein said controlling elementcomprises. a resiliently returned plunger in combination with a platehaving holes for guiding a plurality of controlling elements.

6.. I n a machine for punching record cards in accordance with aperforated pattern record, va punching device including punching pins, apneumatically actuated 4controlling element for each pin, said elementbeing under the control of'said perforated pattern record, an interposerbetween each controlling element and punching pin set for directengagement with said punching pin by the actuation of the relatedcontrolling element, means for simultaneously locking the setinterposers in their active positions directly7 against the pins and theremaining interposers in an inactive position out of cooperation withthe pins during a punching operation, and means to release said lockingmeans after a vpunching operation.

7. -In a machine of the character described, means for punching recordcards in accordance With a section of a pattern strip,means to edistribute the punched cards into different receptacles, and controldevices whereby said distributing means is under the control of apredetermined index point position of said pattern strip alone.

8. In a machine of the character described, means .for punching recordcards in accordance with a section of a perforated pattern strip havingaplurality ofindeX point positions and a special designating perforation,

means to guide a punched card into one of two receptacles, and pneumaticmeans under the control of said designating perforation alone andadapted to control said guiding means. l

9. In a machine of the character described, means for punching recordcards in accordance with a section of a perforated patternV vstriphaving a predetermined designating perforation, a magnet controlledmeans adapted to distribute the punched record cards 1n one of tworeceptacles, contact means for said magnet, said contact means beingVunderthe control of a pneumati-cally actuated element controlled by saiddesignating perforation of the pattern strip alone.

10. In a machine for transferring data from several successive andseparate sections of a perforated record strip in web form, means toanalyze at a single operation all the perforations in a separate sectionof the strip, a punching mechanism controlled by said analyzingmechanism and settable to effect the simultaneous punching upon a singlerecord card of all the data upon the section of the strip analyzed tothereby designate like data, a roller carrying a supply of 11. In amachine for transferring data from each of a series of successive andseparate sections of a perforated record strip in web form, means toanalyze at a single operation all the perforations in a section of thestrip, a punching mechanism controlled by said analyzing mechanisms andsettable to effect the simultaneous reproduction upon a single card allthe perforations of the section of the strip analyzedto designate thesame and' like controlling data, a roller carrying a supply of saidstrip, automatic means for limiting the feeding of the strip from theroller an extent equivalent to a section of the strip after a punchingoperation, and automaticmeans effective after a punching operation topresent a card to the punching mechanism.`

12. A machine for punching records in accordance with sections of acontinuous strip each section having a predetermined number of columnsof perforations, an analyzing mechanism for analyzing at a singleoperation all the perforations in a section,

means controlled by said analyzing mechapunch at a single operation acorresponding number of columns 'of 'a record card, a supply rollercarrying the strip and means for cyclically and lautomatically limitingthe feeding of said strip from the roller to an amount equivalent to thelength of a section thereof for each record presented to the punchingmechanism. ,Y

13. A machine for punching records in accordance with sections of acontinuous strip each section having a predetermined numberof columns ofperforations, an analyzing mechanism for analyzing at a single operationall the perforations in a section, means'controlled by said analyzingmechanism for correspondingly setting punches to punch at a singleoperation a corresponding number of columns of a record card, means tofeed record cards singly to said punching mechanism, frictional feedingmeans operated in correspondence with the record card feeding means forintermittently and automatically feeding the strip, and means forlimiting the amount of feed equivalent to the length of a. section tobring a new section into controlling position after each punchingoperation.

14. In a machine for transferring data from successive sections of astrip each section comprising a plurality of adjacent columns, ananalyzing mechanism for simultaneously analyzing the perforations of asec- '5 dering the punching mechanism operative when a record is inpunching position, a storage roller, a supply roller means to feed therecord-strip from the supply roller to the storage roller a distanceequivalent to the length of a section to present a successive section tosaid analyzing means after each record punching operation, and meansincluding a rotatable element for measuring the length of strip fed andlimiting it to a section.

15. A machine for punching record cards in accordance with perforationsin a plurality of adjacent columns of a section of -a strip, 'acorresponding number of columns of punches, means for simultaneouslyanalyzing a section of the strip at a single operation to effect asetting of the corresponding punches, means whereby the set puncheseffect at a single operation a punching of the record card, means forfeeding records singly to said punching mechanism, a supply rollercarrying the controlling record strip, a storage roller and frictionalmeans for intermittently feeding said strip from the supply roller andsimultaneously to the storage roller a distance equivalent to the lengthof a record section of said strip.

16., In a machine for punching record cards in accordance with aperforated pattern record, a punching device comprising a plurality ofpunching pins, a selecting element for holding each pin for a punchingoperation, plungers for actuating said selectingl ele ments, lair supplypressure means including ducts leading to the plungers in which ductsthe passage of air is controlled by perforations in a record strip todetermine which of "said plungers and correlated selecting elementsshall be simultaneously actuated, and a common bar for locking aplurality of actuated selecting elements prior'to punching by thepunching pins.

17. In a machine for punching records in accordance with a pattern sheetconsisting of separate sections, a punching mechanism comprising rows ofpunches, rows of punch selectors actuated to hold saidpunches for apunching operation, valve means periodically operated to pneumaticallyanalyze by air pressure a pluralityof columns of the pattern sheetsimultaneously whereby the corresponding punch selectors are actuatedsimultaneously, mechanical means forretaining the selectors in actuatedposition4 irrespective of cutting oit the air pressure by the valvemeans and means for periodically operating the valve means for eachanalyzing operation.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein `individual plungersactuate the selectors, and said valve means comprises a plungl erreciprocally movable in a cylinder having openings to connect an airsupply to selectively actuate the individual plungers in accordance witha plurality of columns of perforations of the sheet in one position ofthe valve plunger, and to cut off air pressure to the individualplungers in another position of the valve plunger. v

19. In a punching apparatus, a punching mechanism settable and effectiveat a single operation 4to reproduce on a card the perforations in asection of a perforated strip, an analyzing device for simultaneouslysensing the perforations of a complete section to correspondingly setthe punches, a pair of rollers positioned adjacent each side of saidanalyzing device, means for driving both of said rollers to feed saidstrip after each punching operation and means movable with the drivingmeans for limiting the feed of the strlp to a section of predeterminedlength.

20. In a punching machine, a punching mechanism settable and effectiveto punch at a single operation a plurality of columns of an .individualcard, a pneumatic analyzing` device for simultaneously sensing aplurality of columns of perforations of a section of a continuous strip,means for feeding to said analyzing device means for controlling thefeeding means to effectively limit the length of feed to an extentequivalent to a section, and a storage roller driven by the feedingmeans for receiving the perforated record.

21. In a punching machine, a punching mechanism settable at a singleoperation for punching a plurality of columns of an individual card, ananalyzing device for sensing' the plurality of columns of a record stripWhile at rest, said strip having marginal perforations, rollersat eachside of said analyzing device having projections engaging said marginalperforations, and devices for driving said rollers, and means correlatedwith the rollers to edectively limit the extent of the feed to apredetermined length of strip for each analyzing operation.

. 22. The invention according to claim 21 further characterized bytheprovision of a storage roller receiving said strip and driven by saiddriving'devices.

23. In a punching machine, a punching mechanism settable only once foreach section of a record strip to reproduce by a single operationperforations of a section of a strip upon an individual card, ananalyzing devicefor analyzing at a single operation a plurality ofcolumns of the strip comprising a section thereof, means for ejecting af punched card'after each -punching operation and introducing a new workcard tothe punching mechanism, means for feeding a forated under controlof the subsequent section of the strip'and means for limiting the extentof feed of the strip for each machine operation to a predeterminedlength.

24. In a machine for punching record cards in accordance with aperforated pattern strip, a punching mechanism, means to control thepunching mechanism by a section of the pattern strip, means for feedingrecord cards to and from said punching mechanism, a drive comprising apair of frictionally engaged elements for feeding the pattern strip intocontrolling position, a control disk,

and means comprising a pawl correlated with the control disk forlimiting the feed .of the pattern strip to the length of a controllingsection.

25. A machine for punching` record cards in accordance with a perforatedpattern strip7 a punching machine including punches, punch selectors,pneumatic m'eans effective upon the analyzing of perforations in asection of a pattern strip for controlling the punch selectors, meansfor feeding a record card to the punching mechanism, means for feeding asection of the pattern strip to contro-l the punch selectors, and meanscomprising a plate engageable with a plurality of selectors for lockingsaid selectors during the punching of the card.

In testimony whereof I hereto-aiix nature.

l i my sig- EUGENE A. FORD.

